Sara felt scared and alone.

Six months ago, a 35 year-old woman named Sara called Haven of Hope’s crisis line looking for help.  Four months earlier, Sara’s boyfriend had convinced her to relocate with him from New Jersey to outer Goodhue County.  Sara brought her children, nine year-old Jonathan, and 15 month-old Olivia.  Sara had known her boyfriend, Gary, for almost ten years, and trusted him completely. 

Sara had been battling severe depression.  While three months pregnant with Olivia, Sara had witnessed her fiancé commit suicide by lighting himself on fire with gasoline.  After giving birth to Olivia, the “baby blues” had manifested into severe post-partum depression for Sara.  Gary and Sara’s fiancé had been best friends, and in the weeks following that tragic event Gary had been very supportive and understanding.  Gary had been previously married and had lived in Minnesota for 19 years.  After a few months of dating, Gary talked Sara into moving back to Minnesota with him.  He was very persuasive and paid for all of her moving expenses. 

After two months in Minnesota, Gary began pressuring Sara to marry him.  Sara soon discovered that Gary was not a U.S. citizen and needed to be married within two months in order to remain in the United States.  Sara felt used and betrayed.  When she refused him, Gary became abusive and belligerent, and threatened to kick her and her two children out of his house.

Sara had no friends, no family, and no support here in Minnesota.  She was frightened for her own safety, and the safety of her two children.  Gary was a body builder, and worked at both a health spa as a personal trainer and at a group home for the learning disabled.  He was very well known and well liked in his community.  He boasted to Sara that he “knew all of the local cops” and dared her to call 9-1-1 when he gave her a black eye.  When Sara finally gained enough courage to call the police, they told her that because she was not on the lease, she would have to be the one to leave…and that was when she called Haven of Hope.

Upon her arrival, she was matched up with her own personal advocate.  For the first time in months, Sara felt safe.  She was surrounded by people who were there to listen, support, and guide her in choosing a path that was best for her family.  Staff at the Haven helped Sara enroll her children in school and HOPE’s kids support group, and Sara herself became a regular at the weekly women’s support group.  With the help of her advocate, she found a counselor at Goodhue County Mental Health, and is successfully managing her depression.  Sara has now secured a job and an affordable two-bedroom apartment in Zumbrota. 

“This is the first time that I have felt safe, at home, and loved just as I am.  I thank my new “family” for helping me find my way to a whole new life!”

 – Sara, 35

There are many stories like Sara’s.  For every Sara we help, there are 10 more living in our community, too scared or ashamed to seek help.